EAGLES: Romo undergoes surgery, officially ruled out for Sunday

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo seats on the beach as watches the action on the big screen television during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Friday that Romo underwent back surgery that morning and will go on injured reserve.

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Garret said Kyle Orton starts at quarterback in the NFC East winner-take-all title game Sunday night against the Eagles at AT&T Stadium.

The 31-year-old Orton’s backup is 41-year-old Jon Kitna, who had been coaching high school ball.

Since the 2006 season, the Cowboys are 6-7 without the services of Romo.

“We spent the week exhausting all options in regards to Tony’s situation,” Garrett said. “We just felt like, as we discussed it and as yesterday wore on that this was the best decision for him and for our organization moving forward. And we felt like it was better to have it done sooner rather than later.”

The Cowboys (8-7) also will be missing one of their best players in linebacker Sean Lee (neck) while another, linebacker DeMarcus Ware (back) is questionable. Linebacker Ernie Sims (groin) is doubtful, but wide receiver Dez Bryant (back) is probable.

The Eagles (9-6) are favored by 7 points on the road.

The Birds will be without the services of safety Colt Anderson (knee) and center Julian Vandervelde (back). Safety Earl Wolff (knee) is questionable.

Eagles players were skeptical about Romo’s availability. His epic finish against the Washington Redskins convinced some that he might give the division championship game a shot.

Romo limped through a chunk of the fourth quarter and basically threw the winning touchdown pass in the final minute on one leg.

“If he did what he did and had the ability to bring them back and win that football game, I’m sure the one thing you know about him is he’s an unbelievable competitor,” Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said. “And he’s going to do whatever he can do to see if he can play in the game.”

Romo’s luck ran out.

The loss of Lee, one of the unit’s best tacklers, has destabilized an already suspect Cowboys defense that is allowing an NFL worst 418.6 yards per game. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has taken the heat for a unit missing many of the pieces it began the season with.

“You know, he’s as good a linebacker as there is in this league,” Kelly said. “But you have tape on what their defense is like without Sean in there because he’s been out for a little bit here.”

NFL rushing leader LeSean McCoy also could be facing a defense without its finest player in Ware. He’s questionable with a back issue.

Garrett declined to specify what repairs the surgeon made to Romo or what the prognosis was for a return. ESPN reported Romo had a herniated disk, potentially a career-ending injury.

“We anticipate the surgery solving the issue that he has,” Garrett said. “And we’re certainly hopeful he’ll be back sooner rather than later.”

Garrett says the Cowboys are confident this issue is unrelated to the back procedure Romo underwent during the offseason.

“I know everybody thinks that just because I’m a Texas boy it’s the Cowboys,” Foles said. “But when you’re in Austin, there’s only one pro team and that was the Texas Longhorns.”

Say what? Hopefully the NCAA doesn’t investigate.

At any rate, Foles grew up digging the style of then-Longhorns quarterback Major Applewhite, whom he watched play in person.

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NOTES: McCoy is the FedEx Ground player of the week. … Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant has 85 receptions for 1,134 yards and 12 touchdowns. Bryant needs five receptions to be the first Cowboys player with 90 or more catches, 1,000 plus receiving yards and 10 or more TDs in consecutive seasons. Bryant has 22 TD receptions in his past 23 games.